IND vs ENG: Sunil Gavaskar questions Jasprit Bumrah’s absence from Ranchi Test

Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has raised questions about India’s decision to rest ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah against England in Ranchi. The 74-year-old pointed out that the Ahmedabad-born pacer bowled only 24 overs in the third Test in Rajkot, which shouldn’t tire the pacer.

Notably, Bumrah bowled 15 overs in the first innings and eight overs in the second innings of the third Test at Rajkot. Gavaskar also pointed out that ahead of the third Test, both teams enjoyed a nine-day break, which provided ample recovery time, and bowling 23 overs in the entire game should not have been overly fatiguing for a fit athlete like Bumrah.

“Despite bowling just 15 overs in the first innings and then eight overs in the second innings of the third Test at Rajkot, Bumrah was rested for Ranchi presumably on the trainer’s recommendation,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for The Mid Day.

“Don’t forget there was a nine-day break between the second Test and third Test match and then bowling 23 overs in the entire game is not tiring at all, so why was Bumrah rested? After the fourth Test there was going to be another eight-day break before the final Test match; enough time for supremely fit athletes to recover and be ready to play for the country,” the former Indian skipper continued.

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It wasn’t in the Indian team’s immediate interest: Gavaskar

Gavaskar added that the fourth Test between India and England was extremely important as a defeat in Ranchi, would have made room for the visitors to make a comeback in the series. However, he was very happy with Akash Deep’s bowling, who made his Test debut in the absence of Bumrah and picked up three wickets in the first innings.

“The fourth Test also was a crucial game as, if England had won that, the final Test would have been the decider. So, whether it was the NCA or Bumrah who took the call, it wasn’t in the Indian team’s immediate interest. That young Akash Deep bowled splendidly to offset Bumrah’s absence, once again showed that it doesn’t matter if the big names don’t play there will always be young guns who would be only too happy and as the skipper Rohit Sharma said, be hungry to play for India and to bear any hardship for the honour and privilege of playing for your country,” Gavaskar concluded.

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